AERC Summit 2025: A New Vision for Africa’s Economic Future
Africa’s top economists, policy leaders, and development experts have gathered in Nairobi for the 2025 AERC Research and Policy Summit—an event already shaping up to be one of the most influential conversations on the continent’s economic direction.
Hosted by the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the three-day summit brings together a diverse community of scholars, central bank leaders, private sector players, and international partners united by a shared goal: redefining Africa’s development priorities for the next decade.
A New Era of Economic Thinking
Opening the summit, AERC Executive Director Prof. Victor Murinde emphasized that Africa is at a turning point. He described the gathering as an essential space for clear thinking and bold conversations about the continent’s economic future.
“This summit gives us a space to rethink how African economies can grow sustainably and inclusively,” he said.
Representing the National Treasury, Economic Planning Principal Secretary Bonface Barasa Makokha delivered remarks from Treasury CS John Mbadi who challenged Africa to tell its own economic story.
“For years, others have defined our development agenda. That must end,” Mbadi said. “Africa’s future depends on courageous ideas that prioritize dignity, resilience, and shared prosperity.”
He urged African countries to reduce reliance on foreign aid and instead maximize local talent, innovation, and resources.
Top Minds in Finance and Policy Converge
The summit has drawn an impressive lineup of leaders, including:
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Prof. Ernest Aryeetey – AERC Board Chair
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Dr. Lesetja Kganyago – Governor, Reserve Bank of South Africa
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Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego – Governor, Bank of Uganda
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Michel Dzombala – Vice Governor, Bank of Central African States
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Dr. Francis Chipimo – Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Zambia
These leaders are expected to unpack Africa’s biggest economic challenges—from debt pressures and currency volatility to climate change and digital transformation.
AERC Unveils New Private Sector Platform
One of the biggest announcements at the summit is the launch of the African Private Sector Platform (APSP). The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between policy researchers and businesses across the continent.
AERC Board Chair Prof. Ernest Aryeetey noted that the platform will help ensure that policy discussions are grounded in real economic activity.
“Businesses are at the heart of Africa’s growth story. This platform gives them a stronger voice in shaping policy,” he said.
Driving Research That Matters
Throughout the summit, scholars will present new research on key themes such as:
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Macroeconomic stability
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Regional trade and integration
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Human capital and labour markets
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Climate resilience
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Financial sector and digital transformation
The sessions include peer review, debate, and policy interpretation—ensuring that the research produced directly supports decision-making across African governments.
Shaping Africa’s Next Development Chapter
As Africa faces global economic uncertainty, the AERC Summit arrives at a time when bold ideas and strong policy collaboration are essential.
For AERC, an institution with nearly four decades of shaping economic research in Africa the summit is both a reflection point and a launchpad. The organization is rolling out its 2025–2035 Strategic Plan, which focuses on deeper regional impact, stronger economic research capacity, and more influence in global policy spaces.
If the conversations in Nairobi are anything to go by, Africa’s economic future will be shaped by Africans and the 2025 AERC Summit is making that vision a reality.
